Alicia lay wide awake, staring at the ceiling.

She knew she had work in the morning and tried to force herself to sleep, but it was useless. Her thoughts kept circling back to one question: had Caden left because of Yolanda again?

After tossing and turning for what felt like forever, she finally gave up. Slipping on a coat, she found herself heading toward Caden’s apartment before she even realized it.

When she arrived, Cade, the dog Caden had recently taken in, greeted her. While Caden had made the effort to bring Cade into his life, his care had been rather perfunctory—strictly limited to the basics. The dog received his three daily meals but no special treats or affection.

Alicia knelt down and gently petted Cade, her hands combing through his fur. She carefully trimmed it, ensuring it was neat and short. To complete his new look, she tied a pink bow snugly around his neck.

Cade seemed overjoyed with the change. He bounced around excitedly, his tail wagging furiously, before settling into her arms with a contented sigh.

A soft smile graced Alicia’s lips as she held him close, the simple moment filling her with unexpected warmth.

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Eventually, she lay down on the sofa, Cade curled up beside her, and drifted into a deep, peaceful sleep that carried her through the night.

Meanwhile, Caden spent the night at the hospital.

Yolanda’s condition was complicated; her health had been fragile since birth. With a weak immune system, even minor illnesses posed significant risks, and her health had been a constant source of anxiety for her parents.

Regina and Dorian had always taken meticulous care of Yolanda, shielding her from every conceivable threat. Even a slight cold breeze was forbidden to touch her.

Yet, since Dorian had entrusted her care to Caden, Yolanda had already experienced two alarming episodes of coughing up blood.

By morning, her condition had finally stabilized. Dorian stepped out of the hospital room, his usual composed demeanor intact, but his face was hard and serious.

“Caden, you need to explain this to me.”

Caden, who held deep respect for Dorian, responded with calm politeness. “Yolanda’s sudden decline was completely unexpected. This is on me. Once she’s ready for discharge, I will personally escort her back to Averibon. She won’t need to worry about any more business responsibilities.”

Dorian’s gaze darkened, his expression thoughtful and conflicted.

He admired Caden—his sharp mind, his strength—but he was also painfully aware of Yolanda’s deep, unspoken affection for him.

“Caden,” Dorian began slowly, his voice steady but heavy with meaning, “I need you to be honest. What exactly do you feel for Yolanda?”

Caden’s tone remained calm and measured. “She is a close friend and my business partner.”

Dorian’s eyes narrowed slightly. “No possibility for anything more? No deeper relationship at all?”

“I’m sorry, Dorian,” Caden said, his voice unwavering, “but Yolanda and I are not meant for each other.”

The words struck Dorian harder than he had expected. His heart sank, but he also appreciated Caden’s honesty.

Blunt though it was, it held a certain clarity. Perhaps such honesty was a virtue.

Men should be straightforward.

“I will talk to Yolanda about going back,” Dorian said with a resigned sigh. “You just focus on your work. I overreacted earlier on the phone and spoke too harshly. Don’t let it bother you.”

Caden lowered his gaze slightly. “I won’t.”

Later, Dorian relayed Caden’s exact words to Yolanda.

She listened in silence, her face calm, but her heart shattered into pieces. Silent tears slipped down her cheeks, her pain too overwhelming for words.

Dorian felt her anguish keenly. He handed her tissues, his voice soft yet firm. “Come on, enough crying. There are countless men out there. Why does it have to be him?”

Yolanda recoiled from his touch, her voice sharp and filled with pain. “Do not touch me!”

Her bitterness spilled over as she shoved Dorian back, her words cutting deep. “I was born with this illness because of your genes! I have suffered for years, and now I cannot even be with the man I love. What kind of parents are you?!”

Dorian’s face darkened instantly.

He had been a figure of respect for decades, and only Yolanda had ever dared to speak to him like that.

But it was his own doing—he had spoiled her for so long, and now he had no choice but to endure it.

“Caden is not like other men. Once he makes a decision, he rarely changes it. Even if you were with him, you would not find happiness. Can’t you see that, Yolanda?”

Without hesitation, Yolanda shot back, “Who has he set his mind on, then? Did he mention anything about Alicia?”

“Alicia? Who is Alicia?”

Yolanda’s eyes dimmed as she turned her back to him, her voice thick with emotion. “She is the one Caden likes, even if he has never said it.”

Dorian’s thoughts flickered to the night before, recalling the faint scent of a woman’s fragrance clinging to Caden when he had arrived in a rush. At the time, he had dismissed it as a trick of his mind. But now, it all made sense.

“If he has already given his heart to someone else, that is even more reason for you to move on,” Dorian said, his voice hardening with resolve. “Yolanda, you have to let this go.”

Yolanda clenched her jaw, her resistance evident.

She didn’t want to let go. She simply couldn’t.

“Dad, I cannot live without Caden. I will stay here, even if it kills me. And if you will not help me, then from this moment on, I will not consider you my father!”

Dorian felt a surge of anger so intense it nearly robbed him of breath, his chest tightening painfully.

Fearing he might say or do something rash, he quickly stood and left the room.

As he stepped out, Regina approached, carrying a tray of food. One look at his stormy expression, and she sighed.

“You argued with Yolanda, didn’t you?”

Dorian drew a long, deep breath, his frustration and sorrow weighing heavily on him. “Yes,” he muttered, feeling utterly worn down.

He sat down beside Regina, lowering his voice as he recounted the heated exchange with Yolanda.

Regina listened patiently, her calm demeanor a stark contrast to his turmoil. When he finished, she said simply, “If this is what she’s set her heart on, let her do it. She will have to face the consequences on her own.”

Dorian frowned, clearly displeased. “This is Caden’s fault. He already has someone else in mind. So why couldn’t he just keep his distance from Yolanda?”

Regina gave him a sharp look.

“Since when did you start losing your sense of fairness? Caden came to you for help and offered a partnership in return. You were the one who pushed for a marriage alliance, not him.”

Her words struck Dorian hard, leaving him momentarily speechless. For once, he found himself at a loss for how to respond.

After a long pause, Dorian’s voice grew heavy with regret. “It’s my fault that Yolanda hasn’t been healthy.”

Regina pursed her lips, holding back her immediate thoughts. “Dorian, we are both healthy, and there’s no history of illness in our family. Yolanda’s condition has always troubled me,” she said, her tone laced with concern.

“What do you mean?” Dorian asked, curiosity piqued.

Regina hesitated, weighing her words carefully. After a moment of consideration, she decided it wasn’t worth pursuing further. Shaking her head, she dismissed the thought.

“Forget it,” she said softly. “Right now, we need to focus on resolving the problem at hand.”

During visiting hours, Caden arrived with Ciara in tow, ready to see Yolanda.

As they entered the room, it was clear Yolanda had been crying. Her swollen, red eyes betrayed the depth of her sorrow, and her entire demeanor was listless, as though all her energy had been drained.

Feeling a wave of sympathy for her, Dorian turned to Caden and said, “I have some free time coming up, so I’ll stay in Warrington to lend a hand. In the meantime, I want you to spend more time with Yolanda, alright?”

Caden frowned, his expression a mix of concern and frustration.

Before he could respond, Yolanda quickly interjected, her voice trembling. “Dad, please don’t put Caden in a difficult position. If he stays here with me, someone will make it hard for him.”